The best advice i ever received
“You can do anything you want if you are willing to work hard and long enough for it.” Joseph Ralph Hamilton
We were riding in the dark blue Chrysler Imperial to the north side of Anderson, where my father had two crucial locations – the automatic car wash and the Chrysler dealer. On an average Saturday morning, I rose early and got the cartoons cranked up on the large console black and white television set. The four-by-two-foot wooden set was mid-century modern and had a push-button dial for choosing channels.
Mom and dad slept in on the weekend, so they left me the funds to make one of my favorite purchases every Saturday, Golden Crust doughnuts delivered directly to our front door. They usually arrived just before Roy Rogers started out to the range to catch bad guys and were accompanied by a large glass of whole milk poured from a reusable glass gallon container. The milkman left three or four gallons in the milk box, which sat just outside the back door. Creamy white deliciousness was delivered a couple of times a week from Best Ever dairy on the north side of town, and it covered many a bowl of Raisin Bran every week.
After the cowboy shows, Mighty Mouse and Looney Toons dad and I loaded into the car and headed for the car wash. Dad never drove a dirty car, a tradition I’ve carried forward with pride. There was only one small Chrysler dealership in Anderson since the city was General Motors town. Delco-Remy and Guide Lamp employed around 20,000 people in a metropolis of approximately 75,000. In Anderson, most folks either worked for GM or a company that supplied the behemoth.
Dad did not work for General Motors in those days, though he did so during the war when he designed the airfoils for the P-38 Lightning aircraft at the Allison plant in Indianapolis. For some unknown to me reason, my father did not like GM cars. He designed glass-forming machinery and had no connection to that company. I always felt like the old man bought Chryslers as his little way of rebellion against “the machines” that were GM or Ford. Imperials were his car of choice. Riding in one of these monsters was driving an ocean liner, and one could fit one of today’s little vehicles in the trunk of these luxury cars.
The drive to and from the car wash, stopping at Burger Chef for take-out on the way home, was our “man time.” Many important subjects were discussed as we cruised through town, and I received much valuable advice, including the birds and bees talk.
On this particular warm summer day, pops was advising me on how to be successful in life. My father was a successful person, and he expected no less from his progeny. All discussions about the future included a heavy dose of hard work and persistence. There would be no lazy, freeloading Hamiltons hanging around town, so I started working in my early teens. I thoroughly enjoyed hard work like mom and dad and the rest of our family. I would much rather hold a job than attend school, but that was not an option, so I did both. I pretty much worshipped the ground my old man walked upon and had no intention of letting him down.
After some lead-in advice, dad came out with it. “Don, always remember, you can accomplish anything in life if you are willing to work hard and long enough to get it. The world is within your reach, but you’ll have to work for it.” My father set me on the course for an enjoyable, successful life, and I am deeply indebted.
Once I figured out my calling to become a Pastor, I followed his advice, and indeed, it worked well. So, as I head out for an adventurous day in Ireland with my daughter, I, too, will leave you with his words.
Find out what you love to do, give it all you’ve got, and never give up or give in. Even if you don’t end up where you hoped, you will, at the least, have traveled nobly and can lay your head on the pillow each night at peace with yourself and God.
It’s raining in Ireland again today; go figure. It rains almost every day in the land of brilliant green grass dotted with furry white sheep. However, no amount of rain will slow us down, so here we go. I hope your day will be as pleasing as ours.
Live Inspired!
Don Mark
